Locals out in force 

Eighteen Australians will be involved in singles action at the 2015 Australian Open – the most in a decade – including 13 on day one.

Click on the owl to see when and where they are playing on the opening day of the tournament. 

Early-round blockbusters 

The draw has thrown up some potential classics early in the tournament. These are matches that wouldn’t be out of place deep in the second week of an Open.

Gael Monfils only knows one way to play – entertaining. Photo: Getty

Second Round (Jan 21/22)

Victoria Azarenka/Sloane Stephens v Caroline Wozniacki [8]

Third Round (Jan 23/24)

Novak Djokovic [1] v Fernando Verdasco [31]

Feliciano Lopez [12] v Gael Monfils [17]

David Ferrer [9] v Gilles Simon [18]

Nick Kyrgios  

What’s wrong with being a dreamer? This is how an extended run in the tournament could go for golden boy Kyrgios. Let’s just say it won’t be easy:

First Round v Federico Delbonis (Jan 19) – Kyrgios should beat the Argentine, even with a slightly dodgy back.

Second Round v Ivo Karlovic [23] (Jan 21/22) – The 211cm Croat – the tallest player on the circuit – will be a challenging proposition.

Third Round v Tommy Robredo [15] (Jan 23/24) – Up for a five-setter? The Spaniard doesn’t mind a scrap, if you’re here that back should be well on the mend. 

Fourth Round v Roger Federer [2] (Jan 25/26) – Now in dream land. 

Quarter-final v Andy Murray [6] (Jan 27/28)

Semi-final v Rafa Nadal [3] or Tomas Berdych [7] (Jan 29/30)

The ‘other’ Aussies 

We know that there isn’t much hope for Australians to make it far at Melbourne Park this year, but if they get a little bit of luck these are the marquee match-ups we could see.

Of particular intrigue would be a Sam Stosur v Casey Dellacqua fourth round all-Aussie grudge match.

Second Round: (Jan 21/22)

Julian Benneteau [25] v Lleyton Hewitt

Sam Stosur v Francesca Schiavone [20] (rematch of their 2010 French Open final)

Bernard Tomic v Phillip Kohlschreiber [22]

Will Bouchard meet her ‘glam slam’ contemporary Sharapova in the Quarters? Photo: Getty

Third Round: (Jan 23/24)

Lleyton Hewitt vs. Milos Raonic [8]

Fourth Round: (Jan 25/26)

Sam Stosur [20] vs Casey Dellacqua [29]

The big guns at the business end 

This is where it starts to get interesting. Those late nights on centre court listening to Jim Courier and Bruce McAvaney are worth it if these are the matches they’re commentating.

Highlights of these possibilities include a Bouchard vs. Sharapova tussle and the brute power of Milos Raonic vs. Novak Djokovic.

Fourth Round: (Jan 25/26)

Tomas Berdych [7] v Ernests Gulbis [11]

David Ferrer [9] v Kei Nishikori [5]

Serena Williams [1] v Jelena Jankovic [15]

Alize Cornet [19] v Caroline Wozniacki [8]

Venus Williams [18] v Agnieszka Radwanska [6]

Quarter-Finals: (Jan 27/28)

Tomas Berdych [7] v Rafa Nadal [3]

Andy Murray [6] v Roger Federer [2]

Novak Djokovic [1] v Milos Raonic [8]

Kei Nishikori [5] v Stanislas Wawrinka [4]

Serena Williams [1] v Caroline Wozniacki [8]

Ana Ivanovic [5] v Simona Halep [3]

Eugenie Bouchard [7] v Maria Sharapova [2]